Heat-treating 52100 with stainless tool wrap
High-carbon bearing steel with fine grain and superb edge stability.
Recommended SSTW grade
Grade 321 stainless foil
52100 austenitizes at or below ~2000°F, so 321 stainless foil is the right everyday choice — full scale and decarb protection at a lower cost per roll.
Shop 321 tool wrap rolls52100 heat-treat reference
- Austenitizing temp
- 1525–1575°F
- Soak at temp
- 10 min
- Quench
- Fast oil
- Temper
- 350–450°F, 2× 1 hr
- Typical uses
- Hunting, kitchen, EDC
- Also known as
- 100Cr6
General knifemaking guidance — always follow the steel manufacturer's published data sheet for your exact stock.
Why wrap 52100 in stainless foil
At 1575°F the bare surface of 52100 oxidizes and loses carbon (decarburization), leaving a soft, scaled skin you have to grind back past. Sealing the blade in SSTW 321 stainless tool wrap keeps oxygen off the steel through the soak and quench, so it comes out of the kiln bright with full hardness right to the edge — less post-heat-treat grinding, no decarb surprises.
52100 foil FAQ
Do I need stainless foil to heat treat 52100?
Wrapping 52100 in stainless tool wrap before the kiln prevents surface scale and decarburization, so the blade comes out clean with the carbon at the edge intact. It is strongly recommended for 52100, especially for air- and plate-quenched work where the blade sits at temperature.
Which SSTW grade should I use for 52100 — 309 or 321?
52100 austenitizes at or below ~2000°F, so 321 stainless foil is the right everyday choice — full scale and decarb protection at a lower cost per roll.
What temperature is 52100 heat treated at?
52100 is commonly austenitized around 1525–1575°F with a 10 min soak, then fast oil and tempered (350–450°F, 2× 1 hr). Always confirm against the steel mill's published data sheet for your exact stock — these figures are general knifemaking guidance.
Ready to heat treat 52100 clean?
SSTW Grade 321 stainless tool wrap, sold by the roll and shipped from the USA.
Shop tool wrap rolls